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BAKERY SYSTEM WITH CONTINUOUS PROOFER AND COOLER "Filed June 5. 1952 H. E. TEMPLE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 14,1956

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BAKERY SYSTEM WITH CONTINUOUS PROOFER AND COOLER Filed June 5, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 92 9/M a5 6// 50 I Aim-11% A D 93 INVENTOR.

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Feb. 14, 1956 H, E. TEMPLE BAKERY SYSTEM WITH CONTINUOUS PROOFER AND COOLER Filed June 5, 1952 60 a2 93 We? 9/ a2 a5 94 8/ a0 6/ 5/ 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 fiflRAM t. TEMPLE H- E TEMPLE Feb. 14, 1956 BAKERY SYSTEM WITH CONTINUOUS PROOFER AND COOLER Filed June 5, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 JNVENTOR. HMAM E. TEMPLE 6! HIS ATT RNEYS bhR/Ws K/Ech; EsTmM/AfiR/s 25'. 8 J 0 w I United States Patent BAKERY SYSTEM WITH CONTINUOUS PROOFER AND COOLER Hiram E. Temple, San Gabriel, Calif., assignor to Read Standard Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application June 5, 1952, Serial No. 291,894 9 Claims. (Cl. 198--31) The present invention relates in general to bakery systems and, more particularly, to a bakery system having an oven and a continuous proofer and cooler associated with the oven so that the bakery goods being processed move substantially continuously through the proofer and cooler, instead of moving therethrough in batches on racks, or the like.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a bakery system of the foregoing general character which occupies a minimum of floor space.

More specifically, an important object of the invention is to provide a proofer and cooler each of which includes a plurality ofdecks along which the bakery goods are moved more or less continuously.

Another object is to provide a proofer and cooler each of which includes a plurality of superimposed, vertically spaced conveyors for the bakery goods which extend generally horizontally between the inlet and out-let ends of the proofer or cooler.

Another object is to provide a proofer or cooler with an inlet conveyor at the inlet end thereof for delivering articles in single file and an outlet conveyor at the outlet end thereof for removing articles in single file, the inlet and outlet conveyors extending transversely of the superimposed conveyors and being spaced vertically therefrom.

A further object is to provide a proofer or cooler which includes inlet transfer means at the inlet end thereof for periodically transferring groups of articles from the inlet conveyor to the superimposed conveyors, respectively, and which includes outlet transfer means for periodically transferring groups of articles from successive ones of the superimposed conveyors to the outlet conveyor.

Another object is to provide a proofer or cooler wherein the inlet transfer means includes an inlet elevating conveyor having a plurality of flights, certain of which are aligned with or register with the superimposed conveyorsand the inlet conveyor, respectively, periodically. A re lated object is to provide an outlet transfer means which includes an outlet elevating conveyor having a plurality of flights certain of which are periodically aligned with or register with the superimposed conveyors and the outlet conveyor, respectively.

Another object is to provide a proofer or cooler wherein the inlet transfer means includes sweep means for periodically transferring a group of articles from the inlet conveyor to a flight of the inlet elevating conveyor in alignment therewith, and for periodically transferring groups of articles from a plurality of the flights of the inlet elevating conveyor to the superimposed conveyors, respectively. Another object in this connection is to provide an outlet transfer means which includes sweep means for transferring groups of articles from successive ones of the superimposed conveyors .to the outlet conveyor.

An important object is to provide a proofer or cooler which includes intermittently operating meansfor operating the elements of the inlet transfer means and the outlet transfer means and the superimposed conveyors in ating means for moving the inlet elevating conveyor, the

superimposed conveyors and the outlet elevating conveyor step by step.

Another important object is to provide a proofer or cooler wherein the superimposed conveyors or decks are separated from each other so as to permit controlling the temperature of the air surrounding each of the superimposed conveyors independently of that surrounding the others. With this arrangement, the bakery goods on the uppermost conveyor or deck are exposed to substantially the same temperature as those on the lowermost, which is an important feature. 7

Another object is to provide a bakery system wherein at least the proofer is provided with a plurality of zones through which bakery goods pass in succession, and is provided with means for changing the'ternperature in successive zones as the bakery goods are conveyed therethrough, the temperature-changing means being actuable by the conveyor means in the proofer to change the temperature in the zones in succession. With this arrangement, bakery goods requiring a proofing temperature differing from that of bakery goods previously proofed may follow closely behind the previously proofed goodsiwithout any necessity of emptying the proofer, which is an important feature.

Another object is to provide a proofer or cooler of the foregoing character which is of relatively simple construction and which may readily be operated automatically.

The foregoing objects and advantages of the present .invention, together with various other objects and advantages thereof which will become apparent, may be attained with the exemplary embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in detail hereinafter. Referring to the drawings:

'Fig. l is a diagrammatic plan View of a preferred bakery system layout embodying the invention;

. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic elevation view of the bakery system layout illustrated in Fig. 1;-

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, semidiagrammatic sectional view of a proofer of the invention and is taken along the broken line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a further enlarged view showing an inlet conveyor, an inlet transfer means and superimposed conveyors of the proofer of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view takenas indicated by broken line 5-5 of vFig. 4;

Fig. dis a fragmentary sectional view taken as indicated by the broken line 6--6.of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary elevational view taken as indicated by the broken line 7-7 of Fig. '6;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken as indicated by the broken line 88 of Fig 4;

Fig. 9 is a side view of an automatic control means or system for various elements of the apparatus illustrated in the figures hereinbefore discussed;

Fig. 10 is an end view of the automatic control means of Fig. 9.

Figs. 11 and 12 are sectional views respectively taken as indicated by .the broken lines 1111 and 12.12 of Fig. 9.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, illustrated therein is a bakery system of the invention which includes an oven '20 and which includes a proofer 21 and a cooler 22 of the invention. The oven 20 is provided with an inlet end 23 at which an automatic oven loadingapparatus 24 may be positioned, and includes an outlet end 25 at which an automatic oven unloading apparatus v26 may be positioned. The proofer '21 is provided with inlet and outlet ends 27 and 2-8, the outlet end of the proofer being connected to the inlet end of the oven by an outlet conveyor 29 for conveying proofed bakery goods or articles from the proofer to the automatic oven loader 24. An inlet conveyor 31) is provided to deliver articles in single file to the inlet end 27 of the proofer 21, the inlet conveyor 30 connecting the inlet end of the proofer to a panning apparatus, for example, diagrammatically illustrated at 31. An inlet conveyor 32 connects the outlet end 25 of the oven to an inlet end 33 of the cooler 22 and is adapted to convey baked articles in single file from the automatic oven unloader 26 to the cooler. The cooler 22 is provided with an outlet end 34 which is connected by an outlet conveyor 35 to slicing and wrapping equipment, for example, diagrammatically illustrated at 36.

The proofer is provided with a plurality of zones through which the bakery goods being proofed pass in succession in moving from the inlet end 27 of the proofer to the outlet end 28 thereof, each such zone being supplied with air independently of the other. In the particular construction illustrated, the proofer 21 is provided with four zones respectively supplied with air through air inlets 41, 42, 43 and 44, the air being exhausted from the respective zones through corresponding air outlets 45, 46, 47 and 48. This construction permits proofing two different bakery products requiring different proofing ternperatures at the same time, the temperature in each zone being changed as the new product is moved into such zone. With this construction, different proofing requirements are met by changing the proofing temperature, the proofing time remaining constant to permit operating the proofer at constant speed, which is an important feature. Ordinarily, in baking bread in particular, different loaf sizes and different types of bread require about the same cooling conditions so that division of the cooler 22 into zones is not necessary in many instances. However, the cooler 22 may also be divided into zones supplied with air independently of each. other in substantially the same manner as the proofer 21.

As will be discussed in more detail hereinafter, the proofer 21 and the cooler 22 are provided with a plurality of decks along which the bakery goods being processed therein are moved more or less continuously. This construction provides relatively short structures for the proofer 21 and the cooler 22 which require a minimum of floor space, this being an important feature of the invention. While the proofer 21 and the cooler 22 may be disposed in various positions relative to the oven 20 as required by the space available without departing from the spirit of the invention, the arrangement illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing is preferred since it provides a compact arrangement wherein the various units are located conveniently close together and still require a minimum of space. In the preferred arrangement, the proofer 21 and the cooler 22 are disposed alongside the oven 20 in alignment, with suflicient space between the oven and the proofer and cooler for access to the various units. The outlet end 28 of the proofer 21 is disposed opposite the inlet end 23 of the oven, and the inlet end 33 of the cooler is disposed opposite the outlet end of the oven, the inlet end 27 of the proofer and the outlet end 34 of the cooler being disposed adjacent each other and opposite points intermediate the ends of the oven. As will be apparent, this provides a compact arrangement and is made possible by the proofer and cooler structures of the invention to be described hereinafter.

The proofer 21 and the cooler 22 are of similar construction so that only the proofer 21 will be described in detail, it being understood that the description of the proofer which follows is also applicable to the cooler. Ordinarily, the length of the proofer will be less than that of the cooler when processing bread in particular since the proofing time of bread is less than the cooling time thereof. In view of this, the number of decks in the cooler may exceed that in the proofer to reduce the length of the cooler, but in all other respects the structures of the proofer and cooler are similar.

Referring particularly to Fig. 3 of the drawings, the proofer 21 includes a housing 60 in which is disposed a plurality of superimposed, vertically spaced decks or conveyors 61 which extend generally horizontally from the inlet end 27 of the proofer to the outlet end 28 thereof. The inlet conveyor 30 leading into the proofer 21 extends into the inlet end of the proofer and extends transversely of the superimposed conveyors 61, the inlet conveyor 31 being spaced vertically from the superimposed conveyors 61. Similarly, the outlet conveyor 29 extends into the outlet end of the proofer 21 and extends transversely of the superimposed conveyors 61, the outlet conveyor also being spaced vertically from the superimposed conveyors. The proofer includes an inlet transfer means for transferring groups of articles, such as straps of baking pans, delivered in single file by the inlet conveyor 31} onto the respective superimposed conveyors 61, and includes outlet transfer means for delivering the groups of articles from successive ones of the superimposed conveyors 61 to the outlet conveyor 29 so that the latter removes the articles in single file. This inlet transfer means includes an inlet elevating conveyor 62 located in the inlet end 27 of the proofer and provided with a plurality of flights 63 which are movable past and adapted to register or be aligned with the inlet conveyor 30 and the superimposed conveyors 61. The inlet transfer means also includes first inlet sweep means 64 for transferring successive groups of articles delivered in single file by the inlet conveyor 30 to successive ones of the flights 63, respectively. The inlet transfer means also includes second inlet sweep means 65 having a plurality of sweep elements 66 positioned opposite the respective superimposed conveyors 61 for transferring the groups of articles on a plurality of the flights 63 onto the respective superimposed conveyors 61 simultaneously. The aforementioned outlet transfer means includes an outlet elevating conveyor 67 having flights 68 which are adapted to register with or be aligned with the superimposed conveyors 61 and the outlet conveyor 29, an outlet sweep means 69 being provided to transfer groups of articles from successive ones of the flights 68 onto the outlet conveyor 29 so that the articles are removed from the proofer and delivered to the automatic oven loader 24 in single file.

Considering the general operation of the proofer 21 with reference to Fig. 3 of the drawings, the first inlet sweep means 64 is moved to the right periodically in a manner to be described hereinafter to sweep successive groups of articles from the inlet conveyor 30 onto successive ones of the flights 63 on the inlet elevating conveyor 62. When flights 63 equalling in number the number of superimposed conveyors 61 have been loaded with groups of articles by the first inlet sweep means 64 in this manner, the second inlet sweep means 65 is moved to the right to transfer the respective groups of articles onto the superimposed conveyors 61. The latter moves the groups of articles through the various proofing zones hereinbefore described and discharges the groups of articles onto corresponding flights 68 of the outlet elevating conveyor 67, the latter bringing successive ones of the flights 68 into registry with the outlet conveyor 29. As each flight 68 registers with the outlet conveyor, the outlet sweep means 69 moves to the right to transfer the group of articles thereon onto the outlet conveyor for removal from the proofer.

It will be noted that, in the particular construction illustrated in Fig. 3, the inlet conveyor 30 is spaced vertically below the superimposed conveyors 61 and the inlet elevating conveyor 62 is provided with an upwardly moving run adjacent the inlet conveyor and the superimposed conveyors 61 so that the groups of articles transferred from the inlet conveyor onto successive flights 63 of the inlet elevating conveyor are moved upwardly 7 80. The hydraulic unit 129 is actuable by fluid in hydraulic lines 130 connected thereto, the hydraulic unit being controlled by a selector valve 131, Fig. 10, in a manner tobe described hereinafter. As will be apparent, each time the piston of the hydraulic unit 129 is moved from one end of its stroke to the other and back again, the sweep bar 123 is advanced and returned, thereby sweeping any pan straps 87 on the inlet conveyor 30 in the path of the sweep bar onto a flight 63 in registry with the inlet conveyor.

The structure and operation of the outlet sweep means 69 are similar to those of the first inlet sweep means 64, the outlet sweep means also being controlled by the selector valve 131. Consequently, the structure and operation in the outlet sweep means 69 will not be considered in detail.

The second inlet sweep means 65, as best shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, includes a frame 135 which carries the sweep elements 66, the frame 135 being mounted for transverse movement relative to the inlet elevating conveyor 62 on rollers 136 carried by the frame 80. A hydraulic cylinder and piston unit 137 supplied by hydraulic lines 138 is pivotally connected at one end to the frame 135 and at its other end to the frame 80. Thus, each time the hydraulic unit 137 is actuated, the second inlet sweep means 65 is advanced to sweep groups of pan straps onto the conveyors 61 from the respective flights 63 in registry therewith, the sweep means 65 thereafter being retracted out of the path of the flights 63. The hydraulic unit 137 is controlled by a selector valve 139, Fig. ll, in a manner to be described.

Referring to Figs. 9 to 12 of the drawings, a control means 145 is provided to cause the inlet elevating conveyor 62, the first inlet sweep means 64, the second inlet sweep means 65, the superimposed conveyors 61, the outlet elevating conveyor 67 and the outlet sweep means 69 to operate in timed relation. The control means 145 is shown as including an electric motor 146 which drives a shaft 147 through a speed reducing unit 143. The shaft 147 is mounted in bearings 149 and carries discs 151, 152 and 153. The selector valves 118 and 131 are positioned adjacent the disc 151, the selector valve 139 is positioned adjacent the disc 152 and the selector valve 101 is positioned adjacent the disc 153. The disc 151 is provided with a plurality of notches 154 in its periphery, the number of notches 154 equalling the number of superimposed conveyors 61. The disc 152 is provided with a single notch 155 and the disc 153 is likewise provided with a single notch 156. The selector valves 1G1, 118,

131 and 139 are provided with rollers which engage the peripheries of the discs 1'53, 151, 151, and 152, respectively, such rollers being adapted to enter the notches in the discs to actuate the corresponding selector valves. Each time the roller on one of the selector valves enters and subsequently leaves one of the notches, the correspending selector valve is actuated to actuate the corresponding hydraulic unit in the manner hereinbefore described.

Considering the operation of the control means 145, for each revolution of the discs 151 to 153, the selector valves 118 and 131 are each actuated ten times, there being ten notches in the disc 151 and ten conveyors 61 in the particular exemplary embodiment disclosed. Thus, for each revolution of the disc 151, the inlet and outlet elevating conveyors 62 and 67 are advanced ten steps and the first inlet sweep means 64 and the outlet sweep means 69 are actuated ten times. Thus, considering the effect of this on the elements at the inlet end of the proofer 21, the first inlet sweep means 64 has loaded ten of the flights 63 and the ten loaded flights have been moved into registry with or alignment with the respective conveyors 61. Also, the outlet sweep means 69 has unloaded ten of the flights 63 of the outlet elevating conveyor 67 onto the outlet conveyor 29. At the end of one revolution of the disc 153, the selector valve 161 all) is actuated to advance all of the conveyors 61 one step, thereby reloading ten of the flights 68 of the outlet elevating conveyor 67. At the same time, the disc 152 actuates the selector valve 139 to actuate the second inlet sweep means 65, which then transfers groups of pan straps 37 from the ten flights 63 opposite the conveyors 61 onto the respective conveyors 61.

The foregoing sequence of events is continuously repeated, the control means 145 maintaining synchronism between the conveyors 61, the inlet elevating conveyor 62, the first and second inlet sweep means 64 and 65, the outlet elevating conveyor 67 and the outlet sweep means 69. Preferably, the control means 145 operates in timed relation with the inlet and outlet conveyors 30 and 29 so that the proofer 21 is kept in step with the remainder of the installation. Such synchronism between the inlet and outlet conveyors and the other elements of the proofer may be attained in any suitable manner, not shown.

It will be apparent that, by the provision of the superimposed conveyors 61 in the proofer 21, the bakery goods may be substantially continuously proofed in a minimum of space, which is an important feature. As an example, it will be assumed that the bakery system disclosed is intended to handle bread requiring a baking time of twenty minutes, a proofing time of sixty minutes and a cooling time of ninety minutes. It will also be assumed that the oven 20 is feet long. By employing ten decks in the proofer 21 and twelve decks in the cooler 22, the proofer and cooler lengths are approximately sixty and seventy feet over all, respectively. In the foregoing, it is assumed that the pan straps pass through the proofer and the cooler in ranks equal in width to the ranks passing through the oven. Thus, allowing for an aisle between the oven 20 and the proofer and cooler 21 and 22 approximately equal in width to the width of the oven, it will be seen that the entire oven-proofer-cooler combination occupies an area approximately equal to three times the oven width multiplied by the oven length, which is far less space than that required by prior installations. It will be understood that the foregoing exemplary dimensions are intended as illustrative only and not as limiting.

As best shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings, each conveyor 61 is separated from the conveyor 61 thereadjacent by a partition 161 which extends substantially the entire length of the conveyors 61 and which extends across the proofer and is secured along its side to the sides of the proofer housing. Thus, the zones surrounding the respective conveyors 61 are'separated from each other so that the bakery goods on the respective conveyors are subjected to substantially identical temperatures when air is delivered to the air inlets 41 to 44. In proofing bakery goods on racks in a proofing chamber, which is conventional practice, the goods on the upper shelves of the racks are subjected to considerably higher proofing temperatures than those on the lower shelves, which is undesirable. The provision of the superimposed conveyors 61 separated by the partitions 161 in the manner indicated avoids this difficulty, which is an important feature of the invention.

Various changes, modifications and substitutions may be incorporated in the embodiment disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an article conveying apparatus for a bakery system, the combination of: a frame having inlet and outlet ends; a plurality of superimposed, vertically spaced conveyors carried by said frame and extending generally horizontally between said inlet and outlet ends thereof; an inlet conveyor carried by said frame at said inlet end thereof for delivering articles to said inlet end of said frame in single file, said inlet conveyor extending transversely of said superimposed conveyors and being spaced vertically therefrom; an inlet elevating conveyor carried by said frame at said inlet end thereof, said inlet elevating conveyor being provided with a plurality of'fli'ghts spaced apart therealong and being positioned adjacent said inlet conveyor and said superimposed conveyors so-as'to periodically align certain of said flights with said inlet conveyor and said superimposed conveyors, respectively; first inlet sweep means carried by said frame at said inlet end thereof and movable relative to said inlet, conveyor and said inlet elevating conveyor for transferring successive groups of articles from said inlet conveyor to successive ones of said flights of said inlet elevating conveyor, respectively; second inlet sweep means carried by said frame at said inlet end thereof and movable relative to said inlet elevating conveyor and said superimposed conveyors for periodically transferring groups of articles from a plurality of said flights of said inlet elevating conveyor to said superimposed conveyors, respectively; and means operatively connected to said superimposed conveyors, said inlet elevating conveyor, said first inlet sweep means and said second inlet sweep means for operating same in timed relation.

2. In an article conveying apparatus for a bakery system, the combination of: a frame having inlet and outlet ends; a plurality of superimposed, vertically spaced conveyors carried by said frame and extending generally horizontally between said inlet and outlet ends thereof; an inlet conveyor carried by said frame at said inlet end thereof for delivering articles to said inlet end of said frame in single file, said inlet conveyor extending transversely of said superimposed conveyors and being spaced vertically therefrom; an inlet elevating conveyor carried by said frame at said inlet end thereof, said inlet elevating conveyor being provided with a plurality of flights spaced apart therealong and being positioned adjacent said inlet conveyor and said superimposed conveyors so as to periodically align certain of said flights with said inlet conveyor and said superimposed conveyors, respectively; first inlet sweep means carried by said frame at said inlet end thereof and movable relative to said inlet conveyor and said inlet elevating conveyor for transferring successive groups of articles from said inlet conveyor to successive ones of said flights of said inlet elevating conveyor, respectively; second inlet sweep means carried by said frame at said inlet end thereof and movable relative to said inlet elevating conveyor and said superimposed conveyors for periodically transferring groups of articles from a plurality of said flights of said inlet elevating conveyor to said superimposed conveyors, respectively; an outlet conveyor carried by said frame at said outlet end thereof for conveying articles away from said outlet end of said frame in single file, said outlet conveyor extending transversely of said superimposed conveyors and being spaced vertically therefrom; an outlet elevating conveyor carried by said frame at said outlet end thereof, said outlet elevating conveyor being provided with a plurality of flights spaced therealong and being disposed adjacent said superimposed conveyors and said outlet conveyor so as to periodically align certain of said flights of said outlet elevating conveyor with said outlet conveyor and said superimposed conveyors, respectively; outlet sweep means carried by said frame at said outlet end thereof and movable relative to said outlet elevating conveyor and said outlet conveyor for transferring groups of articles from successive ones of said flights of said outlet elevating conveyor to said outlet conveyor; and means operatively connected to said superimposed conveyors, asid inlet elevating conveyor, said first inlet sweep means, said second inlet sweep means, said outlet elevating conveyor and said outlet sweep means for operating same in timed relation.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the means last defined includes intermittently operating means operatively connected to said inlet elevating conveyor and said superimposed conveyors for periodically moving same step by step.

4. In an article conveying apparatus for a bakery system, the combination of: a frame; a plurality of super imposed, vertically spaced, generally horizontal conveyors carried by said frame; an inlet conveyor carried by ,said frame, said inlet conveyor being spaced vertically from said superimposed conveyors and extending transversely thereof; an elevating conveyor carried by said frame, said elevating conveyor having a plurality of flights spaced apart therealong and being disposed adjacent said inlet conveyor and said superimposed conveyors so as to periodically align certain of said flights with said inlet conveyor and said superimposed conveyors, respectively;first sweep means for transferring successive groups of articles from said inlet conveyor to successive ones of 'said flights, respectively, said first sweep means being carried by said frame and being movable transversely of said inlet conveyor; second sweep means carried by said frame and movable transversely of said elevating conveyor for transferring groups of articles from a plurality of said flights onto said superimposed conveyors, respectively, simultaneously; and intermittently operating means operatively connected to said elevating conveyor, said superimposed conveyors and said first and second sweep means for operating same in timed relation.

5. In an article conveying apparatus for a bakery system, the combination of: a frame; a plurality of superimposed, vertically spaced, generally horizontal conveyors carried by said frame; an outlet conveyor carried by said frame, said outlet conveyor being spaced vertically from said superimposed conveyors and extending transversely thereof; an elevating conveyor carried by said frame, said elevating conveyor having a plurality of flights spaced apart therealong and being disposed adjacent said superimposed conveyors and said outlet conveyor so as to periodically align certain of said flights with said outlet conveyor and said superimposed conveyors, respectively, said flights being adapted to receive articles from said superimposed conveyors when aligned therewith, and said outlet conveyor being adapted to receive articles from a flight aligned therewith; sweep means for transferring articles from successive ones of said flights to said outlet conveyor, said sweep means being carried by said frame and being movable transversely of said outlet conveyor; and intermittently operating means operatively connected to said superimposed conveyors, said sweep means and said elevating conveyor for operating same in timed relation.

6. An apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the means last defined includes intermittently operating means operatively connected to said inlet elevating conveyor and said superimposed conveyors for periodically moving same step by step, and means controlling said intermittently operating means for actuating said inlet elevating conveyor a number of times equal to the number of said superimposed conveyors for each single operation of said superimposed conveyors.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the means last defined includes intermittently operating means for superimposed conveyors, said inlet elevating conveyor, said first inlet sweep means and said second inlet sweep means, and means controlling said intermittently operating means for actuating said inlet elevating conveyor and said first inlet sweep means a number of times equal to the number of said superimposed conveyors for each single operation of said superimposed conveyors and said second inlet sweep means.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein the means last defined includes intermittently operating means operatively connected to said inlet elevating conveyor,

said superimposed conveyors and said outlet elevating conveyor for periodically moving same step by step.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 5 including means controlling said intermittently operating means for actuating said elevating conveyor a number of times equal to the number of said superimposed conveyors for each single operation of said superimposed conveyors.

(References on following page) References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Hueg Feb. 11, 1896 Perkins Ian. 2, 1900 Moore Dec. 17, 1918 Fisch June 29, 1920 Reece Dec. 7, 1937 Duval et a1. Sept. 5, 1939 12 Reece Sept. 17, 1940 Hesson Mar. 18, 1947 Bower June 10, 1952 Fave. Aug. 24, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain May 26, 1921 Italy June 30, 1932 

